YMCA polar plunge: Come on in, the water’s fine

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By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

More than 30 brave souls took a polar plunge into the lake at Earlton Hill Campground this weekend to raise money for the Greene County YMCA. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

EARLTON — It’s January, the temperature is a toasty 27 degrees and there’s ice floating in the water — it’s the perfect time to take a dip… right?!?

Well, that’s exactly what more than 30 intrepid souls did on Saturday when they participated in the Greene County YMCA’s Plunge for a Purpose — the organization’s first-ever polar plunge into the icy waters of the lake at Earlton Hill Campground.

“I love cold plunging — it’s really good for your health,” said Helen Crane of Greenville. “It’s fun, it’s exciting. I had a friend come and join me.”

Participants donned bathing suits and raced into the water as gasps and cheers went up from the crowd — who were all wearing winter coats, hats, gloves and the like. But bathing suits were good enough for those running into the water — splashing, laughing and having a grand old time.

“It’s cold in the water, but it’s a rush,” Crane said.

Two men who dared to take the plunge didn’t want to come back out and stayed in the icy depths up to their necks. The one rule of the plunge — you couldn’t put your head under the water.

Two men remained in the water long after the others ran out. Looks like the water was fine! Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

Just in case, a crew from the Town of Coxsackie Ambulance Squad was on hand, but they weren’t needed. Polar plungers were more invigorated when they came out than when they went in, and there were no injuries of any sort.

Plunge for a Purpose was a fundraiser for the Greene County YMCA, the first of its kind in the local area. Event organizer and YMCA Wellness Director Michele Johnson, of New Baltimore, said 33 people had signed up online and another five or six registered on site on the day of the event. And not to be outdone, Johnson was one of the first-timers taking part in a polar plunge.

“We do annual campaign fundraising events and I wanted to do something outside the box and also outside of the Y to involve more of the community,” Johnson said. “I have talked for years about doing a polar plunge and my kids never thought I would, so ha!”

While spectators wore winter gear, the polar plungers donned bathing suits for their mid-winter dip in the lake. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

Ed Grant, one of the daring participants, just turned 80 years old. A resident of Long Beach, Grant has a second home in Athens and has been doing polar plunges for decades.

“For the last 30 years, we have been doing this in Long Beach,” Grant said. “We raise a million dollars a year for Make-A-Wish. Every Super Bowl Sunday we go in, about 2,000, 3,000 of us go in. But this is the first time I ever did this in a lake with the ice around.”

What does it feel like taking a plunge into icy waters?

“It feels great now,” Grant said after the plunge. “It’s always cold when you go in, but your body bounces back. I just turned 80 years old, so it’s working out for me.”

Pam Burnett did her first-ever polar plunge Saturday. She was surprised to find out that the air was colder than the water.

“It was wild and crazy and cold,” Burnett said. “I’ve seen this done on television for years and it’s something I always wanted to do and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to help the Y. It’s a great thing.”

Pam Burnett show off her well-earned Plunge for a Purpose sweatshirt after the event. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

Laura Fallon has done plunges in the past, in Grafton and Lake George. Each time, it’s an invigorating experience.

“I think it’s the challenge of doing it and then doing it together with a bunch of like-minded people is awesome,” Fallon said. “I also kayak in the winter, so I want to know what to expect and now I know. It’s awesome.”

Some of the participants wore winter hats. Wonder if it helped? Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media
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